Lean manufacturing
- JIT (Just In Time)

Just In Time(JIT) is the backbone of the lean
manufacturing system. Initially Toyota production system is known
as the JIT system due to this reason. All the basic concepts which
lately became lean manufacturing developed in Toyota for this
system. For an example, concept of producing things when they
need, pull scheduling, kanban are few things developed here.

Initially JIT aimed at manufacturing process
improvement. Therefore even today people call JIT as JIT manufacturing.
But actually JIT consist of three main parts. They are known as
JIT purchasing, JIT manufacturing and JIT distribution.

JIT purchasing aims in making sure all the required
raw materials in house when they are just required. This functionality
is supported with limited supplier bases and agreements with them.
Quality is assured in the purchased raw materials.

Manufacturing the goods when they need is the
aim of JIT manufacturing. The need to manufacture is created by
the customer demand for the organization, and by the next activity
in the manufacturing floor. Production is carried out with no
interruptions and with no work in progress. This enables the smooth
manufacturing process and flexibility. Many techniques and tools
are used in achieving this. Some of them are kanban cards, 5S
techniques etc.

Just in time process distribute the goods in
small batches. Several batches may be sent to the same place even
within a day. Goal of this is facilitating the no working progress
and large storage concept. This enables the JIT manufacturers
to compete on the lead-time and on time delivery. This also cuts
down the cost of carrying inventory. In the bigger picture JIT
distribution helps the organization.

JIT, lean manufacturing and Toyota are attached
to each other and can not be broken apart.